Why are Major League Baseball players wearing gold ribbons today?
All MLB ballplayers and umpires will be wearing gold (or yellow) ribbons and wristbands across the league for all games played today, Sunday, September 3, 2023.
These special yellow ribbons and gold wristbands are being worn for MLB’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Day to support the fight against childhood cancer through the MLB Together platform. This is the eighth consecutive season in which the league has raised awareness of childhood cancer via players wearing gold ribbons and wristbands during a game.
“MLB and Clubs have supported the fight against cancer through a variety of initiatives for many years,” read the release from Major League Baseball. “As Stand Up To Cancer’s founding donor, Major League Baseball and its Clubs have pledged more than $50 million to SU2C’s collaborative cancer research programs, providing invaluable support. Launched in 2013, the work of the Stand Up To Cancer – St. Baldrick’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Dream Team has helped develop new treatments for difficult to treat pediatric leukemias which have been approved by the FDA.”
The on-field Major League Baseball personnel wearing gold ribbon decals or patches on their jerseys and gold wristbands include all players, managers, coaches, and umpires.
Some of the additional ways Major League Baseball teams will help raise awareness of childhood cancer today include pregame ceremonies, youth participation in pregame ceremonies, virtual visits from players and mascots, and other special recognitions.
“Stand Up To Cancer’s pediatric cancer research is one of the largest segments of the organization’s portfolio, with 31 innovative pediatric cancer research grants, including four of SU2C’s signature ‘Dream Teams,’ and 11 individual awards to early-career Innovative Research Grants, supporting 51 clinical trials with more than 1,300 pediatric patients enrolled,” added the release from the league. “SU2C-funded research has helped support two FDA approvals for new treatments to improve pediatric leukemia patients’ outcomes and minimize side effects. MLB has recognized SU2C at its jewel events since the 2009 World Series.”
In addition to the in-game events, twenty-two MLB clubs have been selected to receive a Starlight Virtual Reality headset or a Nintendo Switch handheld to be donated to a local children’s cancer hospital, a pediatric cancer care unit, or a childhood cancer nonprofit organization. The 22 clubs selected for this program in 2023 are the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays.
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